The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 47(4), 259-265
To more precisely understand the changes in triplet births in recent years.
Analysis of recent government and medical publications pertaining to triplets.
Triplet births are at much greater risk than singletons of poor birth outcomes. More than 9 of 10 triplet births are born preterm (< 37 completed weeks of gestation) as compared with < 1 of 10 singleton infants. The average weight of a triplet newborn (1,698 g) is one-half that of a singleton newborn (3,358 g). The infant death rate for triplet and other higher-order multiple births is 12 times higher than that for singletons (93.7 as compared with 7.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births).
Based on their frequency of preterm birth, low birth weight and infant death rate, it is appropriate to characterize all triplet pregnancies as high risk.
Keith, L. G., & Oleszczuk, J. J. (2002). Triplet births in the United States. An epidemic of high-risk pregnancies. *The Journal of reproductive medicine*, *47*(4), 259-265.
Keith LG, Oleszczuk JJ. Triplet births in the United States. An epidemic of high-risk pregnancies. J Reprod Med. 2002;47(4):259-265.
Keith, Louis G., and Jaroslaw J. Oleszczuk. "Triplet births in the United States. An epidemic of high-risk pregnancies." *The Journal of reproductive medicine*, vol. 47, no. 4, 2002, pp. 259-265.
Adult, Disease Outbreaks/statistics & Numerical Data, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Infant Mortality, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Infant, Newborn, Middle Aged, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology, Pregnancy, High-Risk, Risk Assessment, Triplets/statistics & Numerical Data, United States/epidemiology